Grewcock banned as Shaw walks free

Shaw cleared on a legal technicality

England lock Danny Grewcock has been banned from rugby for two months after a disciplinary hearing in Auckland - his second row partner Simon Shaw, who received a red card during England's game against New Zealand on Saturday, had been cleared of any further punishment and is free to play against Australia on Saturday.

Grewcock was cited for foul play during England's 36-12 second Test defeat against New Zealand, and the Bath captain will be unable to play until September 1.

Grewcock was found guilty by a three-man panel of reckless use of the boot to All Blacks centre Daniel Carter's head, with England coach Sir Clive Woodward described his the judicial hearing as 'fair'.

The Bath captain will now miss next Saturday's World Cup final rematch against Australia in Brisbane.

Simon Shaw, however, is free to play after being cleared of foul play despite being sent off against the All Blacks for use of the knee on New Zealand lock Keith Robinson.

Referee Nigel Williams of Wales raised the red card in the 11th minute of the game after an intervention from Australian touch judge Stuart Dickinson, who flagged up the incident that involved Shaw and the prone - and off-side - Robinson.

But the disciplinary panel ruled that Shaw could not be banned since Dickinson had breached protocol by asking for help from the television match official to identify Shaw.

By referring the matter 'upstairs' to Matt Goddard in the video room, Dickinson was invoking a rule use by SANZAR board members (South Africa, New Zealand and Australia) and used across the southern hemisphere.

But the use of replays for incidence of foul play is not officially sanctioned by the International Rugby Board (IRB), the body that had control of the fixture in Auckland.

Grewcock's ban is the latest in a series of indiscretions that has chequered his career.

The 31-year-old, who would have won his 50th cap against Australia had he been selected, was sent off playing for England against New Zealand in 1998.

He was also red-carded twice in club colours during the 2002/03 season, although his first sending off - against Saracens - was quashed on appeal.

The second dismissal - for punching England team-mate Lawrence Dallaglio in the Parker Pen Cup final - meant he missed England's Test in Wellington last year.

Woodward is now expected to go with a second row partnership of Simon Shaw and Steve Borthwick for the match against Australia.